Local Guides helped me a lot when my whole life was changing significantly. As a Turkish girl, I lived in Turkey until when I was 23. Then, I moved to the USA for my graduate studies in mechanical engineering. I applied to universities in the USA, which was one of the hardest periods of my life because I was applying to the schools that were at least 6,000 miles away from my hometown. This meant that I would be away from my family, friends, favorite park, and restaurants and I would experience a different culture. It was a life-changing action and I had to select the best possible option for my career as well as my future well-being. That’s why one of my criteria to decide where I should live in the next chapter of my life was to ask myself whether I can imagine myself living in that city. I looked at the reviews of the campuses, neighborhoods, local restaurants, parks, entertainment places, etc. Local Guides gave such precious information about what to expect and not to expect when I start to live in that city. Not only Local Guides helped me before I moved to the USA, but it also continued helping me when I moved to Columbus, Ohio. Local Guides gave my push to leave my house to explore the city that I was a complete stranger. Local Guides pulled me out from my bubble by being the experience simulator. One can apply Local Guides’ experiences to make the most out of a place. For example, you can check Local Guides’ advice, photos and videos to determine which hiking trail has the best views. Look at how happy I am in the photo below, which I took on the hiking trail that I was able to find through Local Guides in the first week of my US adventure, with my new friends that I made during the orientation.
After less than two years leaving in Ohio, Local Guides eased the discomfort of moving out again when I decided to move to Leominster, Massachusetts, to a city that I have never been in before. Experiencing all that with such confidence and feeling secure couldn’t be achieved if Local Guides didn’t exist. Therefore, I have been an experience simulator for other people - maybe who needs a little push - to go out and explore the city that they live in or around. Thinking that I could be a factor in someone’s itinerary by my humble opinions and descriptions about a place, always puts a smile on my face. I especially love giving details about the environment with my photos. The below screenshot is an example of many of my photos; this particular photo has nearly seen a million times.
I also love to include the details that photos cannot capture in my reviews. I added a screenshot of one of my detailed reviews below where I talk about hotels’ details that one cannot find it on the hotel’s official website. For instance, this hotel could be a perfect option if you want to swim in a steady sea or to snorkel in the sea, instead of surfing. I am very happy that I can give back to the community that helped me find good restaurants around campus, boardgame cafés, extraordinary hiking tracks with stunning views with the people that I just met at the international student orientation of my new university.
